Pushbutton assembly for operating a switch



Jan. 30,1968 D. 1.. BEALE PUSHBU'ITTON ASSEMBLY FOR OPERATING A'SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 51, 196 6 A Figlb Jan. 30, 1968, D. L. BEALE I 3,366,765

PUSHBUTTON ASSEMBLY FOR OPERATING A SWITCH Filed May 31, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' United States Patent Ofihce 3,366,765 Patented Jan. 30, 1968 3,366,765 PUSHBUTTON ASSEMBLY FOR OPERATING A SWITCH David Lionel Beale, Kent, England, assignor to International Standard Electric Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 31, 1966, Ser. No. 553,820 Claims priority, application Great Britain, June 18, 1965, 25,872/ 65 Claims. (Cl. 200172) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pushbutton assembly is provided having a cap and a body member which are formed so that they have interlocking means by which they form an assembly when placed together. The body and the cap each include projections which serve to keep the assembly in position in an opening through which they have been assembled.

This invention relates to pushbutton assemblies and switches operated by them.

It is an object of the invention to provide a captive push. button assembly for operating a switch enclosed within a protective cover, which remains attached to the cover when the switch is removed.

According to the present invention there is provided a pushbutton assembly for operating a switch enclosed within a protective cover, through a hole in said cover, comprising a body member adapted to cooperate with such a switch and a cap arranged to fit over said body member, said cap and said body members having interlocking means for holding them in mutual contact, and in which said body and said cap are further provided with projections to retain said assembly within a hole in said cover.

With equipment such as telephonic intercommunication apparatus operated by pushbutton switches, it is advantageous if the pushbutton assemblies remain attached to the protective cover when the apparatus is removed, for example, for servicing. This object can be achieved by making the pushbutton in two parts having projections which engage the edges of the hole in the cover through which the pushbutton operates its associated switch. By making a pushbutton which is assembled in situ and the components of which are held in place by interlocking means provided on them, the pushbutton may be made to act as a holder for a card or other replaceable indicator means.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1(a) shows a front view of a cap for a pushbutton assembly;

FIG. 1(b) shows a side view of the cap;

FIG. 2(a) shows a front view of a body for the same pushbutton assembly;

FIG. 2(b) shows a side view of the body;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the assembly mounted on a switch and projecting through a hole in the protective cover for the switch;

FIG. 4 shows the relationship between the cap 1 and body 4 as seen in a top view of FIG. 3 and demonstrates the appearance of an exemplary digit 5 as seen through the transparent material of the cap.

Referring now to FIGS. 1(a) and (b), 2(a) and (b),

the cap 1 consists of a transparent plastic moulding made from clear polystyrene or like material. Its upper surface 2 is covered to facilitate operation and its sides are provided with holes 3 to interlock with the body member 4. The body member is moulded from Cycolac T or like material, and has rounded projections 5 to interlock with the holes 3 on the cap. An internal projection 6 operates a switch by means of a push rod (not shown). Both the cap and body are provided with projections (7 and 8, respectively) which engage with the sides of the switch cover when the pushbutton is assembled and prevent the button from falling out of the case.

The operation of the pushbutton is shown in FIG. 3. Cap 1 fits over body 4, the holes 3 on the cap interlocking with projections 5 on the body. A space 9 is provided between the cap and body to act as holder for an indicator card or other indicating means which is visible through the transparent material of the cap. The internal projection 6 on the body of the switch operates on push rod 10. The pushbutton assembly is retained within the switch cover 11 by projections 7 and 8 on the cap and body, respectively, but may be removed by pulling the two apart.

It will be apparent that departures may be made from the embodiment described above without departing from the principles of the invention. For instance, projections on the cap may interlock with holes on the body, or alternatively some form of screw thread connection might be employed in place of the hole-and-projection arrangement for interlocking the parts.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description of specific examples of this invention is made by way of example only and is not to be considered as a limitation on its scope.

What is claimed is:

1. A pushbutton assembly for operating a switch enclosed Within a protective cover through a hole in said cover, comprising a body member adapted to cooperate with such a switch, a cap fitted over said body member, said cap and said body members having interlocking means holding them as an assembly in mutual contact, and said body and said cap each including projections to retain said assembly within a hole in said cover.

2. A pushbutton assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said interlocking means includes a projection on said body member which engages with a hole on said cap.

3. A pushbutton assembly substantially as claimed in claim 1, in which the interlocking means includes a projection on the cap engaging a hole on the body member.

4. A pushbutton assembly substantially as claimed in claim 1 in which said cap is made of transparent material and indicating means provided within the assembly is visible through the cap.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 4 in which the indiacting means comprises a label.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,706,774 4/1955 Bowman 200172 3,144,539 8/1964 Morse 200- 168 3,172,985 3/1965 De Smidt 200172 3,188,43'7 6/1965 Lauren et al 200l67 3,246,112 4/1966 Adams et al. 200168 ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

H. O. JONES, Assistant Examiner. 

